Art Berke, a lifelong White Sox fan, has worked at the highest levels of the sports industry with Major League Baseball, ABC Television and Sports Illustrated. He grew up in Northwest Indiana, in the shadow of old Comiskey Park, and proudly proclaims 2005 as the best year of his life. Art offers his glass half-full opinions and observations as he lives and dies with the Sox.

2009 Season (Thankfully) in Rear-View Mirror; White Sox Will Eye the Prize in 2010

The Sox surely gave it a shot this afternoon, but came up a little short in their quest for a sweep in Detroit with the 5-3 defeat. As a result, the Tigers and Twins (who crushed the Royals, 13-4) will oppose each other in a one-game playoff on Tuesday for the right to face the big, bad Yankees.

It’s the second year in a row that the gritty piranhas have ended the season in a tie for the top spot in the AL Central–and the first time a team has played the “sudden death” game two consecutive years. In last year’s one-game playoff at the Cell, it was John Danks and a Jim Thome solo homer that foiled the Twins in the 1-0 thriller. It may be much different this season as Minny will be playing at the Twinkiedome, and we all know their history at home. Whatever happens, Ron Gardenhire should send a box of expensive cigars to Ozzie for winning this weekend’s series at Comerica to help the Twins’ cause.

Before we put the 2009 season in the rear-view mirror, here are the Sox season leaders:

Home runs: Paul Konerko (28); RBI: Konerko (88); Batting average: Scott Podsednik (.304) with A.J. Pierzynski (an even .300) the only other .300 hitter; Pitching victories: Danks and Mark Buehrle (13); ERA: Matt Thornton (2.74); Saves: Bobby Jenks (29). Additionally, Rookie of the Year candidate Gordon Beckham, who was called up on June 4, finished his maiden voyage in the big leagues with a .270 BA, 28 doubles, 14 homers and 63 RBI.

Despite the disappointment of ’09, Sox fans should be itching for the 2010 campaign to

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Just wanted to say I agree our Gardy should send Ozzie a box of cigars (I’d say a bottle of wine, but when Torii Hunter did that a few years ago he got in trouble)…wanted to thank your boys again for spanking Detroit this weekend. Saw some great ChiSox ball!!

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